LSU’s Mikaylah Williams Named to Cheryl Miller Award Midseason Top 10
Mikaylah Williams is making serious noise in her junior campaign at LSU - and now, the rest of the country is taking notice. The standout guard from Bossier City, Louisiana, has been named to the Cheryl Miller Award Midseason Top 10, a prestigious honor recognizing the top small forwards in women’s college basketball.
This isn’t just a nod to potential - it’s a reflection of production. Williams has been a steady force for the Tigers all season long, ranking third on the team in scoring behind senior Flau’jae Johnson and junior MiLaysia Fulwiley. She’s averaging 13.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game, showing off her all-around game and proving she’s more than just a scorer.
But when she does get going offensively, she’s tough to stop. Williams has hit double figures in 17 games so far, including two standout performances - a 26-point outing against Kentucky and a 20-point game versus Texas.
She’s not just filling up the box score; she’s doing it efficiently. Through 23 games, she’s shooting a blistering 51.2% from the field, 42.1% from three, and 81.5% from the free-throw line.
That’s elite-level efficiency for a player who’s asked to do a little bit of everything on the floor.
At 6-foot, Williams brings size and versatility to the perimeter, giving LSU a dynamic weapon who can score at all three levels, rebound in traffic, and facilitate when defenses collapse. Her game fits perfectly into the modern mold of a small forward - one who can stretch the floor, defend multiple positions, and make high-IQ plays.
The Cheryl Miller Award, presented by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in partnership with the WBCA, is part of the annual “Starting Five” awards, which honor the top players at each position in both men’s and women’s college basketball. The selection committee is made up of respected voices in the game - media members, coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers - and this year, fans also get a say.
Fan voting opens Friday, February 6, at hoophallawards.com, and will continue through the final rounds. The fan vote counts as one committee vote in the selection process.
In mid-March, the Top 10 list will be narrowed to five finalists, and later that month, those finalists will be presented to Cheryl Miller and the Hall of Fame’s selection committees. The winner of the 2026 Cheryl Miller Award will be announced alongside the other members of the Starting Five, including the top point guards (Bob Cousy and Nancy Lieberman Awards), shooting guards (Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards), power forwards (Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards), and centers (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie Awards).
For now, Williams is firmly in the national spotlight - and if she keeps playing at this level, don’t be surprised if she’s the last one standing when the Cheryl Miller Award is handed out.